Swagging slugs

[warchlaq]

Everyone makes slugs, and I do My prototype, made from what I found in the garage, from waste, but it works

Left slug is JSB KO, right my 18grain slug. 

18grain, same weight, different length, the length of the slugs can be adjusted by changing the HP forming pin.

Plasticine expansion test, 18grain v0 285m/s

At the moment, I use JSB jumbo heavy pellets as a material, it is the most convenient for me.

 

[clgraham82]

The die was made from random waste products you just had lying around in your garage...and it gives you a perfectly formed slug? 

 

[Xbowsniper]

Guys,

From someone that has been making slugs for a while, with Corbin equipment, i can safely say that those slugs look pretty darn good. Did you make that die, or purchase it from some outside source? I'm intrigued...........

Tom Holland 

Field Target Tech 

 

[warchlaq]

The die was made from random waste products you just had lying around in your garage...and it gives you a perfectly formed slug?

A month ago, maybe a little longer, I bought myself a small lathe and am having fun.

 

[clgraham82]

The die was made from random waste products you just had lying around in your garage...and it gives you a perfectly formed slug?

A month ago, maybe a little longer, I bought myself a small lathe and am having fun.

OIC...good job!

 

[harrymoreland]

Two suggestions,

video of how you made it and how it works, and

make me one.

very well done.

 

[kimoleto]

Amazing!!! congrats on your new slug dies

 

[Glem.Chally]

Thats making beautiful slugs! Nice work, amazing what some people can do with scrap and skills.

 

[warchlaq]

16, 18, 25 and 34 grain. 34 looks like a 223rem projectile. For 34 grain slug must change the pin that forms the back of the slugs.

Some photos

 

[MacGyver]

Those look very nice! If you don't mind my asking, what do you source for your raw material? 

I had a friend who would sit at the end of his garage for hundreds of hours casting bullets to sell at the gun shows. This was in the early 80s and I can remember back then him trying to find lead sources. He got all he could from the tire shops, but that has gotten really competitive. I can't imagine how much lead he inhaled over the years.

 

[warchlaq]

The hunting weather was bad, so I picked it up a bit in the workshop. Die still needs to be polished, but not today, it's late 

From left, .25 35.5grain, next, for comparision JSB Beast, Monster, slug 25 and 18 grain.

From left, slug .25 35.5 grain, next one is .25 25 grain and for comparision .22 18grain.

 

[warchlaq]

.25 is ready, nice and shine

 

[TrinityMaker]

I'm certainly not going to minimize what you've done. Because not anyone can make their own slug swagging die with a metal lathe. But here's the REAL question....... What is the accuracy? Have you tested them yet? Also, this could be the beginning or something really cool if you're willing to invest the time an take orders. Like, say someone wanted you to make them a swagging die in .254 or .221. You could make custom dies and sell them at a premium. Just a thought. But I'm really interested in the accuracy of those slugs. 

 

[MacGyver]

...Like, say someone wanted you to make them a swagging die in .254 or .221.

Put me on the list please.

Do you put in a premade lead pill? Do you make your own pills too?

 

[warchlaq]

I'm certainly not going to minimize what you've done. Because not anyone can make their own slug swagging die with a metal lathe. But here's the REAL question....... What is the accuracy? Have you tested them yet? Also, this could be the beginning or something really cool if you're willing to invest the time an take orders. Like, say someone wanted you to make them a swagging die in .254 or .221. You could make custom dies and sell them at a premium. Just a thought. But I'm really interested in the accuracy of those slugs.

At the beginning, as soon as I did the first slugs, I checked it right away, nothing special, but also without any tragedy. Now I'm working on improving the alignment of all moving parts (hp forming pin, spindle forming the back of the slugs) I'm also looking for materials that will last longer than the waste from which I made the prototype, I'm learning all the time, maybe something will come out of it, maybe not, it's important that this is what I have fun and get to know my lathe.

It is also important that I can make another dies, in different calibers, shapes, it was not just a coincidence

 

[TrinityMaker]

So you're currently using mild steel? Are you looking for some tools steel (say W2), or something like 1080 that can be hardened, tempered, and machined? 

 

[warchlaq]

So you're currently using mild steel? Are you looking for some tools steel (say W2), or something like 1080 that can be hardened, tempered, and machined?

The slug formatting part is made of hardened steel (3 hours of polishing per mirror), the housing is made of stainless steel because I had a piece in the garage.

Exactly as you write, now I'm going to do it in nc6, it is hardened easily at home (810 degrees) and is not very susceptible to deformation after hardening. But as I mentioned before, I don't know anything about it, I'm just getting into it.

 

[warchlaq]

Preparation for testing slugs .25 Barrel Evanix, 700mm long.
It's dirt inside, the barrel is smooth inside.

Edit:

Barrel after cleaning.

 

[warchlaq]

Slugs .25 1.64grams from a one piece die.

Left 1.64grams right 2.2grams

 

[Scotaty]

They look fantastic . I wonder how they perform.